
New! The deadline for the Mills & Boon Love to Write competition has been extended to Monday, October 4, 2021!
The Romance Includes You Mentorship programme Harlequin started in 2019 is continuing with a new competition, Love to Write, from Mills & Boon in search of romance writers from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds who live in the UK and Ireland.
The winner of Love to Write will receive a one-book contract with Mills & Boon, a grant to support their writing, and a one-year mentorship with a Mills & Boon/Harlequin editor to help them develop their submission into a full, publishable romance novel.
This competition aims to find new romance novels by writers from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds that bring more diverse characters and perspectives to the romance genre. The competition is for writers who have not been published before and are unagented. Submissions open on 9th July 2021 and close at midnight BST on 4th October 2021. Full details of how to enter are available here.

Romance Includes Everyone

In May, Mills & Boon launched Romance Includes Everyone, a competition in collaboration with the UK Romantic Novelists’ Association to find new standalone romance stories that celebrate LGBTQ+ characters. Pitches were received on May 21. The winner, Emma Denny, was announced in September. Her debut , a historical romance with LGBTQ+ characters, will be published by Mills & Boon. Congratulations Emma! Read more.

Comments ( 7 )
I spent the entire shutdown working. Had no time to wind down. I didn’t see my son much when school shutdown. My one co worker was told to stay home for 3 weeks so I picked up her hours. This year has been really crappy.
Ugh, Janell. Here’s hoping the rest of your summer is better.
Thanks for the info, Carol! Everyone is different in how they deal with the shutdown! I stay at home all the time since I don’t work so I haven’t been too effected but my shopping and errands sure have been effected!
Valri, I’ve been doing most of my shopping online. My local Target is still low on some items – mostly cleaning supplies. Grocery store is pretty much back to normal. Most of the dining in our town is outdoor. I can’t imagine have school-age kids!
Wow–getting your creative process on track must have been daunting–especially with “extra-large dog” glad to have you home. You don’t like coffee–I love coffee and have enjoyed my fortifying 2 cups in the morning even more than usual! How as COVID affected your story lines and characterizations? Best Wishes for all releases!
Interesting question, Virginia. You’ll have to tell me if the tone of my “COVID” books changed any! LOL
Life has changed so much! My dad passed Feb 2. The assisted living facility my folks were at went into hardcore lockdown the beginning of March. Mom couldn’t leave her apartment for 4 months! She was on the third floor, Will be 89 in two months & doesn’t use the phone. My husband and I remodeled the lower level completely and moved her in with us July 1. What a life change and difficult transition for the 3 of us! But we’re working thru it!